N.B.—At least £1 10s. should be allowed for landing expenses, and about £1 for tips on board ship (the stewardess expects from 5s. to 10s., according to the amount of attention required on the voyage, and the cabin steward and table steward will expect 5s. each. Subscriptions to games and other tips are optional). An Emergency Fund of a few pounds should also be kept in hand. Passengers are met at the various ports by South African Colonisation Society agents, and they can stay at the Hostels of the South African Colonisation Society, where board and lodging are provided for from 3s. 6d. per day.
A girl with a long railway journey before her would do well to provide herself with food at the port of landing; tea and coffee can always be obtained en route.
Besides the regulation cabin trunk (this must not exceed 14 inches in height, 2 feet in breadth, or 3 feet in length), it is wise to have two smaller boxes in preference to one big one, as they are more convenient for transit in South Africa, and are less likely to get damaged in loading and unloading on board ship. Second-class passengers are allowed 25 cubic feet of baggage free on the ship; any excess is charged 1s. 6d. per cubic foot. On the South African Railways 75 lbs. only of luggage is allowed free to second-class passengers; all excess is charged according to scale.
Girls going to towns, who possess bicycles in good condition, are advised to take them, but they will have to pay duty on them—as much as 15s. in all probability; also the train freightage is heavy. On the boat they are shipped as luggage without extra charge if the 25 cubic feet of baggage be not exceeded.
Introductions to residents in South Africa are given to everyone going out under the auspices of the S.A.C.S., so that all may find friends on arriving in the new country.
CHAPTER XII
ITALIAN POT GARDENS: A SUGGESTION
A well-known French horticulturist, director of many parks, once gave most flattering praise to an English garden. He called it “un jardin intime.” These three words sum up what most of us wish our gardens to be.
We bring to them, from other countries, plants that recall pleasant memories. As we watch these growing happily in our herbaceous borders, thoughts come to us of those who gave them, of happy meetings, and unforgotten scenes. In England we make real friends of our gardens; we confide many secrets to their safe keeping. Owing to a temperate climate, we have long in which to mark the slow development of bud and blossom. The time of flowering is late, and it remains all the longer for our enjoyment. When spring flowers are over, there are lovelier ones to look forward to. We have not to combat the heat and drought which so speedily bring summer beauty to an end in Italian gardens. It is, no doubt, on account of climate that abroad the bedding-out system has been adopted, and thus much of that intimacy with herbaceous plants, which we have, is there unknown. Our English gardens are tended carefully and steadily all the year round; a feeling of rest and peace pervades them.
In Italy a garden is neglected during the winter, whilst the Signoria are away. Beds and paths are left unweeded, all vegetation appears to be dead, and the gardener occupies himself only with vines, vegetables and plants growing in pots, which later will be the chief means of dressing-up the grounds. Most Tuscan villas in winter have the appearance of a Palace of Sleep. We wonder how it will be possible, when the Fairy Prince arrives, to transform disorder into a well-kept, beautiful place. We realise as we see so wonderful a change occur, how valuable a touch of this surprise would be to our old-fashioned English homes. It would improve not only the appearance of our gardens, but enhance the architectural beauty of our houses.
This sudden transformation is brought about upon the first really warm spring day, as if by the stroke of a fairy’s wand. Then the doors of the orangery are flung open, and ornamental pots of all sizes and shapes are brought out by means of rollers and stood in striking positions in the pleasure grounds. During the last few years we have been shown in England, through the good taste and skill of Mrs. Watts and others, what can be done in the way of terra-cotta work for the adornment of gardens. There is nothing new to us in the lovely boxes, sundials, fountains, vases and pots that we see designed, but we have not all, perhaps, succeeded in mastering the art of the Italian in placing these objects, with striking effect, in masses.